College Football Assistance Fund Awards Grant To Help Former University Of Nebraska Football Player Build New Home

March 29, 2012 (Dallas, Texas) – On a late afternoon on April 21, 1976, University of Nebraska football star Budge Porter’s life changed forever. While practicing with his beloved Cornhusker football team Budge made a crushing hit on running back I.M. Hipp. During that tackle Budge suffered a catastrophic neck dislocation that instantly paralyzed him from the neck down. As he laid motionless on Memorial Stadium’s Astroturf his neck was broken and his dreams were shattered.

Throughout the years, Budge has worked hard and persevered at an unbelievable level. The only Husker ever to suffer a severe life-long debilitating injury from playing football, Budge worked as a stockbroker for 22 years to provide for his family. Due to exorbitant medical costs, including multiple neck surgeries and a deadly infection that left him in a Denver hospital for over 2 weeks, Budge has never been able to live in a fully-accessible home.

Today, the College Football Assistance Fund (CFAF) announced that a grant of $10,000.00 will be awarded to the Budge Porter Project to help build his first fully-accessible home.

“On behalf of all of us involved with the College Football Assistance Fund, I am pleased to announce a grant to the Budge Porter Project,” said Board Member, Coach June Jones. “Though his injury occurred over 35 years ago, it is great that we now have a way, through the CFAF, to help support those who have suffered serious injuries while playing college football.”

The CFAF grant will be used to help cover expenses associated with making specific improvements to the new home. “My wife, children and I are extremely grateful for the CFAF’s thoughtful and generous contribution,” said Budge. “This grant will truly help in building the accessible home that we have always dreamed of.”

ABOUT CFAF
The College Football Assistance Fund (CFAF) is a non-profit tax-exempt organization dedicated to the support of football players who have sustained serious injuries through college football. Assistance will be provided to ease the burden of medical costs associated with injuries such as joint replacement, spine treatment, neurological care and other related expenses.
The CFAF was established in 2010 by a group of collegiate coaches and athletic administrators concerned about the limited resources available to injured football players.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Eric Affeldt
President & CEO,
ClubCorp, Inc.

David Bailiff
Head Football Coach,
Rice University

Bob Beaudine
Author – The Power of Who, CEO, Eastman & Beaudine

Brad Brookshire
Chairman,
Brookshire Grocery Company

Troy Calhoun
Head Football Coach,
U.S. Air Force Academy

Margo Daniels
Assistant Tournament Director
Pebble Beach Company

Fisher DeBerry
Past President, American Football Coaches Association
Former Head Football Coach,
U.S. Air Force Academy